Switch-actuating mechanism.



N0. 838,388. PAT'ENTED 1350.11, 1906.

B. L. DAVIDSON.

SWITCH AGTUATING MECHANISM. nrmourrox mam 001.19. 1900.

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UN ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR L. DAVIDSOJ, OF LAWRENCEBURG, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TOJAMES I WILDES. ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN M. FORSYTIIE, AND OSE-FOURTH TO EDGARL. FORSYTHE, OF IRON CITY, TENNESSEE.

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed October 19, 1906. Serial No. 339.714.

T (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR L. Davrnsox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lawrenceburg, in the county of Lawrence and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful S\\'ltCll-.;1CtllittillgMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-switches, and more particularly toswitch-actuating mechanism and a lock therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide simple means whereby arailway-switch can be conveniently operated manually, said means havinga key-operated lock, it being impossible to remove the key while theoperating means is unlocked, and the lock being adapted when the key isremoved to automatically secure the switch-operating mechanism againstmovement.

\Yith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will behereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway-switch and withthe operating mechanism adjacent thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of saidmechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of theactuating-lever. Fig. 4 is a section through the lock upon said lever,and F ig. 5 is a transverse sectlon through said lock and lever.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a switchconnected, by means of an arm 2 and a pivot-rod 3, with an arm 4, whichextends from the lower end of a rotatable stem 5, mounted within astandard 6. This stem carries at its upper end a semaphore 7, andsecured to the stem directly above the standard 6 is an actuating-lever8. The top of the standard 6 is preferably substantizlv semicircular inform, as shown at 9, and the curved edge thereof projects beyond the toof the standard and is concentric with t 1e stem 5 and provided withnotches 10, located at desired intervals. A lock-casing 11 is arrangedupon the lever 8 close to the top 9 of standard 6, and one end of thiscasing is partly closed, as shown at 1",

there being an opening 13, through which projects a bolt 14, adapted tobe seated wit-hin any one of the notches 10. A longitudinally-extendingrecess is formed in one face of the bolt, there being a shoulder 16 atone end thereof and adjacent the end of the bolt, said shoulderconstituting a stop, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.Lateral extensions 17 and 18 are formed upon the bolt at points removedfrom the recess 15, and these extensions are connected by aguide-rod 19,which is slidably mounted within an ear :20, extending over the lever. Aspring 21 is disposed around the guide-rod between the ear and one ofthe extensions 17 and serves to hold the bolt normally projected fromthe end of the casing 1 1. A yoke 22 embraces and is pivoted to thelever and has an arm 23 extending therefrom. This yoke is connected, bymeans of a springstrap 24, with the bolt 14, so that each time the arm23 is drawn toward the lever 8 the strap 24 will all backward on thebolt 14, so as to with raw the end of said bolt from any notch in whichit may be seated.

A locking-lever 25 is pivotally mounted within the casing 11 and has afinger 26 extending from one end thereof and into the recess 15, saidfinger being adapted to rest directly back of the shoulder 16 when thebolt is projected, so as to prevent the bolt from being retracted. Aspring 27 is secured within the casing and bears on the lever 25, so asto hold the finger 26 within the recess. An arm 28 extends from thelever and close to a rotatable cam 29, which is mounted within thecasing and has 'a stem 30 extending into the lever, said stem beingpreferably angular in cross-section. A stop-pin 31 is provided forlimiting the movement of the cam in one direction. The arm 28 serves tolimit the movement of said cam in the opposite direction. Y

The stem 30 projects into a recess 32,which is formed within the upperface of the lever 8, and extending over this recess is a baselate 33,having a keyhole 34. A key 35 is adapted to be inserted into thekeyhole, and when so inserted will slide on to the stem 30. By givingthe key a one-quarter turn the wings 36 thereof will be moved into suchposition as to prevent the withdrawal of. the I the path of the stop,and means for retract- 'ey, and this movement of the key will result Iing the bolt hen released.

in partly rotating the cam 29, so as to press against arm 28 andwithdraw the finger 26 from recess 15 and against the tension of spring27. By pulling the arm 23 toward the lever the bolt 14 can then beretracted out of engagement with the top of the standard 6, and thelever can then be swung in either direction, so as to properly positionhe switch.

In order to withdraw the key 35, it is necessary to turn it until itswings can bewithdrawn from the keyhole 24, and this operation willresult in the return of the cam .29v to its initial position against thepin 31 and the finger 26 will bear against the bolt 14. If the bolt isnot seated within a notch, the lever can be swung until the proper notchregisters with the end of the bolt, whereupon the spring .21 will forcethe bolt forward and the finger 26 will spring into the recess 15 andlock the bolt.

It will be understood that by arranging the springs 21 and 24 in themamier shown the bolt 24 is not only held normally projected from theend of the casing 11, but the-arm 23 is normally spaced from the lever 8without requiring the use of a separate spring for that purpose. 1 y

it will be noticed that the lock is verylsimple in con truction and theentire attachment can be connected to switch-operating mechanism atcomparatively slight cost.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoingdescription; but I do not limit myself thereto, as Iain aware thatmodifications may be made therein without de arting from the spirit orsacrificing the a vantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.-

the

I/Yhat is claimed is- 1. In swltch operating mechanism combination witha standard having notches,

a partly rotatable switchoperating stem within the standard, and anactuating-lever connected to said stem and bearing on'the standard; of aspring-pressed bolt connected to the lever and normally projecting intocontact with the notched portion of ,the standard, said bolt having astop, a springpressed lever adjacent the bolt and normally in the pathof the stop to lock the bolt in projected position, a keyactuatedrotatable cam for operating the lever to withdraw it from 2. In switchoperating mechanism the combination with a standard, and aswitchoperating lever adapted to oscillate upon the standard; of aspring-pressed bolt uponthe lever and normally engaging the standard,said bolt having an elongated recess in one face, a spring-pressedlocking-lever normally seated witlnn the recess to hold the bolt againstmovement, a cam mounted adjacent, and adapted to actuate the lever towithdraw it from the recess, and mantmlly-operated means connected tothe lever for retracting the bolt.

3. In switch-operating mechanism the combination with a standard; of aswitch actuating lever mounted to oscillate thereon, a lock-casingsecured to the lever, a bolt slidably mounted therein and having anelongated recess, a guide-rod connected to the bolt and movabletherewith, a lug upon the lever and constituting a guide for said rod, aspring interposed between the lug and bolt and upon the rod for holdingthe bolt normally projected from the casing, a springpressed levernormally seated within the recess to hold the bolt in projectedposition, means for retracting the lever from the recess, andmanually-operated means for retracting the bolt.

'4. In switch-operating mechanism the.

combination with a standard, and a switchoperating lever mounted tooscillate upon the standard; of a lock-casing carried by the lever, aspring-pressed bolt normally proj ected from the easing into engagementwith the standard, said bolt having a recess, a s ring-pressed levernormally seated within tlie recess, a cam for retracting the lever fromthe recess, a stem projecting from the cam into the recess witlnn thelever, a facelate extending over the recess and having a 'eyhole thereinto receive a stem engaging the key, said key being non-removable whenthe cam is turned to retract the bolt-engaging lever, and means upon theoscillating lever for retracting the bolt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR L. DAVIDSON.

